With so many injuries, Yanks banking on Hafner

DUNEDIN, Fla. — Travis Hafner was born about nine years after Roger Maris played his last game, but he's become a fan through their common link as left-handed powers hitters who hailed from North Dakota.

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By Pete Caldera

recordonline.com

By Pete Caldera

Posted Mar. 15, 2013 at 2:00 AM

By Pete Caldera

Posted Mar. 15, 2013 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

DUNEDIN, Fla. — Travis Hafner was born about nine years after Roger Maris played his last game, but he's become a fan through their common link as left-handed powers hitters who hailed from North Dakota.

And now that Hafner is a Yankee, there's an even broader connection.

"I've watched the movies about him and kind of heard as much as I could about him," said Hafner, 35, "I think a lot of people in North Dakota are aware of his accomplishments."

After an accomplished early career with the Indians, Hafner hasn't been an impact hitter since the 2007 season — though the Yankees are counting on him to regain something of the form that made him as dangerous as Maris in his day.

That might be a stretch, considering Hafner's lengthy recent injury history.

Hafner hasn't even played an inning in the field the past five years. But he launched the best one-liner of camp, when Hafner was asked by manager Joe Girardi if he still owned a first baseman's glove.

"Yeah," Hafner said. "And anyone's welcome to use it."

But Hafner was signed as a free agent to be the primary DH against right-handed pitching, with the cross-your-fingers hope that he could avoid another year on the disabled list.

Already, Mark Teixeira (strained left wrist) and Curtis Granderson (fractured right forearm) are expected to be on the DL into May — meaning Hafner can expect to bat in the heart of Girardi's order.

"And we expect him to be significantly productive," Girardi said. "We need him to be productive."

In the four seasons from 2004-07, Hafner boasted impressive yearly averages of .296, 108 RBI and a .976 OPS.

But in the five injury-riddled seasons since then, Hafner is a .259 hitter, averaging 12 homers, 43 RBI and a .789 OPS in just 86 games per year.

As Thursday's DH, Hafner struck out twice and had a deep sacrifice fly to center in three plate appearances against Josh Johnson in Toronto's 17-5 win.

It was already a lopsided game when Hafner took a third strike on a 3-2 pitch with runners in scoring position.

"I'll tell you what, he's got some kind of eye," Girardi said. "I'm amazed at the amount of pitches that he sees in an at-bat, the way he takes pitches."

In 24 plate appearances this spring, Hafner is hitting .150 (3-for-20) with a double, four walks and two RBI.

"We've taken it kind of slow because he's had some injury issues in his career, but I like what I see," said Girardi, who plans to play Hafner more often in back-to-back days as camp winds down.

Hafner said he's fine physically after back and leg issues limited him to 66 games last season.

"The shoulder injury in 08' was by far the worse," Hafner said. "That kind of wiped out the whole season, and when I did play I was ineffective even after the surgery. I had problems with it for two years."